At a press conference in San Francisco, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer is expected to announce a new partnership between Microsoft and Novell. The unprecedented deal will have Microsoft offering a degree of sales support for Novell's SUSE Linux while both companies work towards better interoperability between their respective operating systems. As part of the agreement, Microsoft also promises not to wield its patent portfolio against SUSE Linux. More here. You can follow the live webcast announcement, by Steve Ballmer, here. Update: Novell has put up a detailed FAQ about this deal.

maybe ms wants to have something in hand when the eu comes with another monopoly suit. I think this is just a ms pr stunt, to bad novell couldn't say no. (would be kinda hard to explain to shareholders) on the other hand where would this bring us on the first they ignore us... scale:)